MAY 18-20 THEARC

Inspired by fairytales from around the world, The Washington Ballet performs a collection of new productions showcasing its Studio Company dancers and world premieres from TWB’s David Palmer, Elaine Kudo, Monique Meunier, Andile Ndlovu and Lucy Bowen McCauley.

Everyone knows the story. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again. However, why was Humpty Dumpty on that wall in the first place? This childhood rhyme has served as the inspiration for the new ballet, and the world will finally discover what happened “before the fall.”

The ballet opens in a busy town square during the late morning on a lovely day. The people of the town are in the square. Humpty Dumpty, a terrible bully, is there, and his antics are well known and disliked by those who encounter him. Most Beautiful Girl arrives with Best Friend. Humpty Dumpty has a crush on Most Beautiful Girl, but instead of mending his ways in order to win her affections, he manages to ridicule Best Friend and create all sorts of trouble.

As the clock strikes one, the people of the town go home for lunch. However, Humpty Dumpty and Most Beautiful Girl remain. Humpty tries to profess his love, but his bullying is out of control, and he ends up being spurned by Most Beautiful Girl. She is not interested in him, and this only serves to make Humpty angrier.

After lunch, the people return, and they have had enough of Humpty Dumpty. They call for the judge to figure out what to do about this bully. The judge gives Humpty a chance to explain his actions, but he can’t stop his rude behavior. The judge is left with no other option. The rest, as they say, is history!